THE ONLY JEW EMPLOYED BY THE BANK OF MONTREAL

CBC Montreal

On this day in Montreal, 1817: The Bank of Montreal, Canada's first bank, officially opens its doors for business. While it was initially located in a former general store on St-Paul Street, the bank moved into a more permanent home on St-Jacques Street in 1819.

Phyllis Carter - I WAS A TEENAGER WHEN I APPLIED FOR A JOB AT THIS MAIN BRANCH OF THE BANK OF MONTREAL. IT WAS THE YEAR THAT "THE SLASHER" WAS CUTTING THE FROZEN LEGS OF WOMEN AS THEY CLIMBED UP INTO THE STREETCARS. THE BANK HAD NO OTHER JEWISH EMPLOYEES, BUT SOMEHOW THEY HIRED ME. I WORKED AS A DRONE, COUNTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN COMPANY CHECKS. ANOTHER CLERK DOING THE SAME JOB, MARY, WAS AS DENSE AS LUMBER. I DOUBT SHE COULD WRITE A COHERENT SENTENCE. BUT THEY PROMOTED MARY. AND I REMAINED A CLERK UNTIL I RESIGNED.